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The Parks Department manages nearly 1,000 acres of park land and over 20 linear miles of trails.

The Parks Department manages nearly 1,000 acres of park land and over 20 linear miles of trails.

The Auburn Farmers Market runs seasonally from June-September each year at Les Gove Park.

The Auburn Farmers Market runs seasonally from June-September each year at Les Gove Park.

Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation features a variety of options for kids to get out and play.

Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation features a variety of options for kids to get out and play.

The Auburn Community & Event Center features a robust Community Fitness Program with dozens of classes, open gym, and equipment and weight room.

The Auburn Community & Event Center features a robust Community Fitness Program with dozens of classes, open gym, and equipment and weight room.

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Civics Academy
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Look Behind the Scenes at Your City Government

2024 Civics Academy will begin on Thursday, September 5 and run through Thursday, November 21 with three Saturday classes. Thursday classes take place from 6:00 - 8:30 PM and the Saturday classes will run from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM.

Apply Online

City government touches so many facets of our everyday lives - from the streets we drive on to the parks we play in. We know that the City makes sure clean water arrives at our tap every day and that the police will be there in an emergency, but exactly how does your city operate, and how can residents contribute more to its success?

To answer these questions, the City of Auburn offers a free Civics Academy to Auburn residents, employees, business owners, and students.

*Please note, the Civics Academy is a non-partisan program provided through the City of Auburn. While the program may include topics regarding political activity in the city, campaigning or political debate are not appropriate in this forum.

For more information about Civics Academy, see below. For further questions, please contact Auburn's Neighborhood Programs Coordinator at [email protected]. 

What and when is Civics Academy?

This Academy provides an overview of City government operation, including insight regarding how the City makes its decisions, allocates its funds, and operates its departments. The goal of the Civics Academy is to empower and encourage residents, employees, business owners, and students to become more civically engaged in the City’s future decisions affecting Auburn’s quality of life.

The 2024 Auburn Civics Academy will be an 11-week course held one evening a week beginning Thursday, September 5, 2024 with three Saturday sessions in the mornings of September 14, September 28, and October 5. The final class will be a graduation ceremony held on Thursday, November 21, 2024. Classes are held in multiple locations in Auburn. Attendees must be willing to commit to attendance of sessions (can miss THREE sessions and still graduate).

Space in Civics Academy is limited, so not all applicants can be selected. The City determines Academy acceptance on a variety of factors to ensure that Academy enrollment reflects the diversity of the Auburn community. Applicants not selected this year will be put on a waitlist for the next offering of Civics Academy.

Academy and Course Objectives

Academy Objectives

We believe that when residents are better informed about how their city operates, how decisions are made and how funds are allocated they will make better decisions about the future of their city.

Course Objectives

  1. To involve and engage residents and businesses in learning about and understanding the operation of city government, and to improve communications between the City and those who live and work here.
  2. To provide insight into how decisions are made, how City funds are allocated, and how City departments operate.
  3. To empower and encourage a larger number of residents, employees, students, and business owners to become more civically engaged in the future decisions affecting Auburn's quality of life.
Who Can Apply?
  • Anyone who is an Auburn resident, business owner/employee, in school, has a general interest in Auburn, and not running or currently serving in a political office. Priority will be given to Auburn residents.
  • Participants must be willing to commit to the attendance of all sessions (you can miss three and still graduate).
  • The Academy is open to students (16 and over) looking for career inspiration or who need more experience before joining the workforce, adults who want to have a stronger understanding about government work, or retirees looking to be more involved in their community.
2024 Civics Academy Schedule
  • Week 1: Thursday, September 5, 2024
    City Government 101
    Mayor/Administration
    City Hall Council Chambers
  • Week 2: Thursday, September 12, 2024
    A Matter of History
    Parks - Museum
    WRVM
     Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024
    Keeping Residents Safe
    VRFA & Police
    VRFA HQ & AJC
  • Week 3: Thursday, September 19, 2024
    Planning, Building, and Maintaining City Infrastructure, Part 1
    Public Works - Engineering
    City Hall Council Chambers
    Week 4: Thursday, September 26, 2024
    By the Code
    Legal & Code Enforcement
    City Hall Council Chambers
    Saturday, September 28, 2024
    Planning, Building, and Maintaining City Infrastructure, Part 2
    Public Works - Maintenance and Operations
    M&O Facility
  • Week 5: Thursday, October 3, 2024
    The Place to Play
    Parks
    Senior Center
    Saturday, October 5, 2024
    Auburn Municipal Airport Tour
    Public Works - Airport
    Auburn Municipal Airport
  • Week 6: Thursday, October 10, 2024
    Giving Auburn a Hand Up
    Human Services & OOE
    Senior Center
  • Week 7: Thursday, October 17, 2024
    Planning for Emergencies
    Emergency Management
    Auburn EOC - 2nd floor
  • Week 8: Thursday, October 24, 2024
    Planning and Building for Today and Tomorrow
    Community Development & Economic Development
    Postmark
  • Week 9: Thursday, November 7, 2024
    Behind the Scenes to Keep it Going
    HR & IT
    Senior Center
  • Week 10: Thursday, November 14, 2024
    Where Does your Money Go and What Does it Do?
    Finance
    City Hall Council Chambers
  • Week 11: Thursday, November 21, 2024
    Graduation Reception & Ceremony
    ALL
    City Hall Council Chambers
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